Edison police investigate attempted luring of 11-year-old girl

Edison police are investigating a report that a man attempted Tuesday to lure an 11-year-old township girl into his car, authorities said today.

The child was walking home from the library alone Tuesday at 4:30 p.m on Grove Avenue, near Saint Helena Church, when a man in a black car with tinted windows pulled up alongside her and introduced himself as "David," said police Lt. Joseph Shannon.

The man, who was clean-shaven and wearing sunglasses, told the girl "Your mom told me to come pick you up," Shannon said.

The child, who did not recognize the man, kept walking, but the man continued to follow her, Shannon said. To avoid leading the man to her house, the girl turned around and headed back toward the library, Shannon said.

The man did not get out of the car and instead drove off, Shannon said. When the child got home, she asked her mother if she had sent anyone to pick her up and told her what happened, Shannon said. The girl's parents reported the incident the next day.

"She handled it very well," he said. "It's a serious incident."

The man is described as white, in mid-30s, with black hair. He was driving a newer-model, four-door car, Shannon said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Edison Police Detective Frank Varga at (732) 248-7533.